Curtain



w. G. BRYANT CURTAIN Filed oct. 18, 1957 April 2,8, 1959 ENTOR; @ya/7j wald@ United States Patent O CURTAIN Waldo G. Bryant, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to The Bead Chain Manufacturing Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 18, 1957, Serial No. 690,997

Claims. (Cl. 160-332) The present invention relates to a beaded screen or curtain and more particularly to such a curtain consisting of a plurality of lengths of ball and link chains.

The beaded curtain of the present invention is preferably utilized as a replace screen to serve as decoration and/or protection against ying sparks or embers though, of course, it -may be used as a screen for windows or doors if desired. The curtain according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of lengths of ball and link chain of the type having alternately connected balls and links by the ends of earch link being headed over and its associated balls being swaged around the ends of the' s' link. While such chains have heretofore been suggested for use in forming a curtain, difficulties in both costs and structures for mounting the chains so that they hang aligned and evenly spaced have hampered acceptance of the curtains.

An object of the present invent-ion is to provide in a beaded chain curtain of the above type for simple and economical structure for supporting the chains so that they depend downwardly in aligned and evenly spaced relation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a curtain of the above type for a chain hanging structure which permits the spacing between chains to be simply and easily altered and yet maintained equal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved holders for maintaining the chains in spaced alignment with the holders being located at the bottom or intermediate the length of the chains.

In attaining the above objects, there is provided a plurality of lengths of ball and link chains and a hanger for the cha-ins. The chains have their top ends suspended in the hanger and are adapted, when in use, to hang vertically downwardly from the hanger in substantially the same vertical plane to form the curtain. While the curtain may have any desired plane shape with the lengths of the chains and the shape of the hanger determining the plane shape, in the specific embodiment hereinafter shown and described, the curtain is rectangular and hence the lengths of the chains are equal.

The hanger of the present invention is formed to have a substantially inverted U cross-sectionally shaped channel with a slot leading to the channel located on the bottom side of the hanger. The top end ball of each chain is positioned within the channel and would normally be freely movable in the channel. However, as in one embodiment of the invention, the end balls cannot move in the channel because the channel is substantially full of end balls whereby each end ball contacts its adjacent end ball. Accordingly the end balls not only serve to inherently space each chain equally from its adjacent chains but also serve to maintain the spacing. The end balls are contained within the channel by the slot being of less width than the diameter of the end balls.

In another embodiment of the invention wherein it is above, there is positioned in the channel between the end yand aligned with adjacent chains.

2,884,054 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 iCC balls of the chains, spacer elements which are similar to balls in the chains to maintain each chain spaced equally The spacer elements according to the specific form of the invention are balls similar to the balls in the chains and are freely movable along the channel except when maintained in position by contact with adjacent balls.

The above concepts are utilized not only in the hanger for the curtain but also in holders, such as bottom and intermediate holders, if such are desired to be employed, to prevent individual movement of the depending chains. Accordingly each of the holders is formed with a channel for receiving and holding end balls of the chain and spacer elements. These members may or may not be used depending solely on the desire of the user.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevation of a bead curtain according to the present invention disposed in front of a fireplace.

Fig. 2 is .a longitudinal section of a length of the hanger.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the hanger.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged view, partly in section, of a length-of the hanger with the chains spaced further apart than those of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a length of the intermediate holder.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the bottom holder.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. l a fireplace 10 having an opening 11. The opening is rectantangular and there is disposed in front of the opening a beaded curtain 12. The curtain 12 has the shape shown to screen only a portion of the entire opening 11 with the remaining portion of the opening being -uncovered by the curtain 12. The particular shape of the curtain may be varied as desired without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The curtain 12 includes a hanger 13 from which depend a plurality of lengths 14- of ball and link type chains. These chains are composed of alternately interconnected balls 15 and links 16 with the ends of the links being headed over and disposed within the ball and the ball is swaged from sheet metal stock thereabout.

The hanger 13 according to the present invention is formed with a channel which is substantially U-shaped in cross section and into which is freely received the top end ball of each chain. The channel communicates with a slot through which the link connecting the end ball and the next ball of each chain passes While the sides of the hanger defining the slot limit the width of the slot to less than the diameter of the end ball, thereby restraining the end ball in the channel.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the hanger comprises a one-piece length of sheet metal 17 bent to have the crosssectional shape shown. Thus the hanger has an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 19 with the lower surface having a rectangular groove 20 formed therein. While, of course, the one-piece member may be bent to form the channel and slot for holding the chains, according to the present invention, there is utilized a channel member 21 which is disposed Within the groove 20 of the hanger 13. This member 21 has a length substantially equal to the hanger and has a cross-sectional shape which is in the form of an inverted U with the free end portions 22 of the legs of the U being bent inwardly to define a slot 23 of less width than the diameter of the ball. The interior size of the channel is somewhat larger than the end balls so that the balls may be easily slipped thereinto and moved thereabout. However, it is less than the diameter of two balls to prevent any balls from shifting position after they have been placed in the channel. The ends of the channel member may be bent inwardly (not assauts@ shown) to close them after insertion of the balls to prevent the balls from coming out of the channel, it being understood that the balls normally are freely movable within the channel.

As shown in Fig. 2, the channel is substantially iilled with the end balls of a plurality ofvchains. Each end ball is substantially in contact with its adjacent end balls and hence movement of the balls is prevented. Thus by merely filling the channel with end balls it will be appreciated that the balls themselves inherently serve to space themselves equally in the channel by contact between each other and in addition the chains, which depend there from, stay spaced. Moreover by supporting the top end ball in the manner shown, each succeeding ball of the chain will be horizontally aligned if the hanger is hung horizontally.

In certain instances, the distance between adjacent chains may be desired to be greater than that shown in Fig. 2. This is easily accomplished, according to the present invention in which the same hanger is utilized, by merely alternately disposing between each end ball of adjacent chains, a spacer element 30. While the spacer element may have any shape which would accomplish its purpose, in the embodiment of the invention shown it consists of a free ball identical to the balls in the chains. While only one ball is shown positioned, it will befunderstood that more than one may be used depending on the spacing desired between each chain. In addition the spacing between chains in the same curtain may be varied simply by the addition or subtraction of the spacer elements. The channel of the hanger by being full of end balls and spacer elements, accordingly adjusts each chain to the spacing desired and serves to maintain each chain in spaced alignment in a manner similar to that shown and described with respect to the curtain illustrated in Fig. 2.

When only a top hanger is used in the curtain, each chain is capable of independently swinging or moving about its top ball with respect to the other chains even with its top ball contained. This in certain instances has not been found desirable and accordingly holders may be employed to maintain the chains from individual movement. Accordingly, as shown in Figs. l and 7, the bottom balls of some of the chains are secured within a bottom holder 24 which has the shape of the channel member illustrated in Fig. 3. It will, of course, be apparent that the chains are spaced in the same manner as the top hanger spaces the chains and that the ends of the holder (as at 25) are bent inwardly to close the ends of the channel. However, the channel member is of less depth in order to prevent the diameter of the balls of the chains and the spacer elements from being in different longitudinal axis. If desired an ornamental covering (not shown) may be fixed to the holder 24.

Similarly, an intermediate holder 26 may be utilized which has the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 6. This shape is substantially in the form of an H with the ends 27 of the legs of the H being bent inwardly to define a slot having less width than the diameter of the balls. In addition the top channel 28 of the holder has less depth than the bottom channel 29 for the same reasons advanced for the difference in depth between the bottom holder shown in Fig. 7 and channel member 21.

It will be appreciated that according to the present invention either the intermediate or bottom holder easily and simply permits the bottom or intermediate portions of the chains to be spaced the same distance between each other as their respective top end balls are and whenever the hanger is horizontal, to be in vertical alignment with their top end balls.

There has thus been disclosed a new and improved beaded curtain in which the lengths of chain forming the curtain may be quickly and easily connected to a hanger or to a holder with the assurance that the spacing between each chain will be the desired value and will be maintained constant. In addition the hangers and holders of the present invention may be utilized without change for dilerent spacing of the chains merely by the addition of spacer elements positioned between the end balls of the chains. The spacer elements as heretofore disclosed consist simply of free balls which are substantially identical to the balls of the chain.

Variations and modilcations may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. A beaded curtain comprising a plurality of aligned ball and link chains adapted to lie in substantially the same vertical plane and an elongate hanger for supporting the chains formed to provide a channel and a slot extending longitudinally of the hanger with the channel being larger than a ball of the chain and the slot having a width less than a ball of the chain, an end ball of each chain being positioned within the channel and being contained therein by the sides of the hanger forming the slot.

2. The invention as dened in claim 1 in which the chains are maintained in spaced relation by the end ball of each chain contained in the channel substantially contacting adjacent end balls.

3. The invention as dened in claim 1 in which spacer elements are positioned in the channel between at least some of the end balls of adjacent chains contained within the channel to thereby space each chain from its adjacent chains.

4. A beaded curtain comprising a plurality of aligned ball and link chains adapted to lie in substantially the same vertical plane; an elongate hanger for supporting the chains including a channel member formed to provide a channel and a slot extending longitudinally along the hanger with the channel being larger than a ball of the chain and the slot having a width less than the diameter of a ball of the chain, an end ball of each chain being positioned within the channel and being contained therein by the sides of the channel member forming the slot; and in which the hanger is formed to provide a lon` gitudinally extending groove into which the channel member is received.

5. A beaded curtain comprising a plurality of aligned ball and link chains some of which are of substantially equal length and adapted to lie in substantially the same vertical plane; an elongate hanger for supporting the chains formed to provide a channel and a slot extending longitudinally along the hanger with the channel being larger than the top ball of the chain and the slot having a width less than the diameter of the top balls of the chain, the top end ball of each chain being positioned within the channel and being contained therein by the sides of the hanger forming the slot; and a bottom holder formed to provide a channel and a slot having a width less than the diameter of the bottom end ball of the chain extending longitudinally along its upper side, the bottom end ball of each chain being positioned within the channel member and being contained therein by the sides of the holder forming the slot.

6. A beaded curtain comprising a plurality of aligned ball and link chains adapted to lie in substantially the same vertical plane; an elongate hanger for supporting the chains formed to provide a channel and a slot extending longitudinally along the hanger with the channel being larger than the top end balls of the chain and the slot having' a width less than the diameter of thev top end balls of the chain, a top end ball of each chain being positioned within the channel and being contained therein by the sides of the channel forming the slot; and an intermediate holder having a longitudinal channel and slot extending along its upper and lower surfaces, each of said chains being formed into two lengths with the adjacent end balls of the lengths being positioned in the proximate channels of the holder.

17. A beaded curtain comprising a plurality of aligned ball and link chains adapted to lie in substantially the same vertical plane; an elongate hanger for supporting the chains formed to provide a channel and a slot eX- tending longitudinally along the hanger with the channel being larger than the top end balls of the chain and the slot having a width less than the diameter of the top end balls of the chain, a top end ball of each chain being positioned within the channel and being contained therein by the sides of the channel forming the slot; an intermediate holder having a longitudinal channel and slot extending along its upper and lower surfaces, each of said chains being formed into two lengths with the adjacent end balls of the lengths being positioned in the corresponding slots of the intermediate holder; anda bottom holder formed to provide a channel and a slot having a width less than the diameter of the bottom end ball of the chain extending longitudinally along its upper side, the bottom end ball of each chain being positioned within the channel member and being contained therein by the sides of the holder forming the slot.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which the chains are maintained in spaced relation by each ball of each chain contained in the channels substantially contacting adjacent balls.

9. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which spacer elements are positioned in each channel at least between some of the end balls of adjacent chains contained with the channels to thereby space each chain fro-m its adja cent chains.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which the spacer elements are balls of the same shape as the balls in the chains.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 609,236 Law Aug. 16, 1898 1,125,749 Smalley Jan. 19, 1915 20 1,634,312 Zecchino July 5, 1927 

